Timberwolves vs Magic Betting Prediction: Expert Picks for Jan 9 NBA Clash

Minnesota Timberwolves (25-10 SU, 16-18 ATS) vs. Orlando Magic (21-15 SU, 25-11 ATS)

When: Tuesday, January 9th, 7:00 PM (ET)

Where: Kia Center, FL, Orlando

TV: BSF

Point Spread: Min -5/Orl +5

Total: 218

Money Line: T-Wolves -209/Magic +171

Notable Injuries

Timberwolves

• Jaylen Clark (Out) Achilles

Magic

• Gary Harris (Out) Calf
• Joe Ingles (Out) Ankle
• Jonathan Isaac (Out) Hamstring
• Wendell Carter Jr. (Out) Knee
• Franz Wagner (Out) Ankle

Recent Form

As the Timberwolves get ready to take on the Magic, they are sitting in 1st place in the Western Conference. Overall, Minnesota is 25-10 this season. When playing on the road, the Timberwolves have gone 11-8, but have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games on the road. For the season, they have an ATS road record of 8-10.

Against the Eastern Conference, the Timberwolves have gone 7-4 compared to 18-6 in games against other Western Conference teams. So far, Minnesota has been the favorite in 27 of their 35 games and have a scoring margin of +7.8 PPG as the favorite.

Their average over/under line for the season has been 223.5, and their over/under record is 19-16. Today’s line of 218 points is slightly lower than the average OU line for their games. This season, they have gone 4-3 with lower OU lines than 218. Their last game vs. the Mavericks finished with a combined score of 223 points, just below the 234-point over/under line.

Against Dallas, the Timberwolves not only lost but failed to cover as they were favored by 2 and lost by a score of 115-108.

Heading into today’s matchup vs. the Timberwolves, the Magic are 5-point underdogs at home. Before this game, they are 21-15 overall and 5th in the Eastern Conference.

When looking at the standings, Orlando is currently 2nd in the Southeast Division. Against other teams in the East, the Magic have gone 15-9 compared to 6-6 in non-conference games.

Orlando has put together back-to-back wins and will look to make it three straight both straight up and against the spread. So far, the Magic have been the underdog in 24 of their 36 games this season and have a scoring margin of -1.8 points per game in those games.

Their average scoring differential at home this season is +9.1 points per game, and their average margin as the home team is +4.5 points. Coming into today’s game, their over/under record for the season is 18-18, and two of their four games with lower over/under lines than 218 have finished below that mark.

The Historicals

Although the Magic have the better ATS mark across the previous 5 head-head matchups at 3-2, the average scoring margin sits in favor of Minnesota, as they averaged 116 points per game while allowing 112. A combined average of 228 points per game was achieved in these matchups, leading to an over-under mark of 2-3.

Analysis

In their most recent game, the Timberwolves scored only 108 points vs. the Mavericks. For the game, they shot 13/41 from three-point range and had a field goal percentage of 43.6%. Looking at the Timberwolves’ last three games, their effective field goal percentage is 54.2% compared to their season-long EFG of 55% (7th). Over their last five games, the Timberwolves rank 14th in three-point shooting percentage at 36.2%.

So far, the Timberwolves’ defense is ranked 1st in the league at 107.7 points per contest. For the season, Minnesota is ranked 17th in fewest fouls per game. Team’s are averaging 21.1 free-throws per game vs. the Timberwolves and have an overall field goal percentage of 44.9%.

In their last game, the Magic put up 117 points vs. the Hawks while shooting 43.9% from the field and making 17 threes. On the season, the Magic are shooting 47% from the field, which is 16th in the NBA. When it comes to threes, the Magic are 27th in percentage and 28th in three-pointers made.

So far this season, the Magic defense has been performing well, ranking 11th in the NBA at 111.9 points allowed per contest. In terms of two-point field goal attempts, the Magic defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 54.6% while allowing 35.7% from downtown.

Betting Trends

• Through their last three road contests, the Timberwolves offense has averaged 112 points per game while allowing an average of 107. Minnesota posted an overall record of 1-2 while going 1-2 ATS.
• In their last ten games at home, the Magic have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 6-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 115 points per game in this stretch.
• In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Magic have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 4-1.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Timberwolves have a straight up record of 7-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-6.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

For this non-conference matchup, I’m taking the Timberwolves as the 5-point favorite. I see Minnesota’s offensive playmakers to be too much for Orlando to handle. I’m taking Minnesota at -5. Are you betting at the best possible site to play with? Check out our best sportsbooks page to find cool things you may not know exist!